'Ocean' Documentary Captures Seabed Trawling's Devastation for First Time

The documentary 'Ocean with David Attenborough,' now streaming on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu, features the first-ever underwater footage of active seabed dredging. Cinematographers Doug Anderson and Toby Strong used shallow depth of field and large cinema sensors to create a cinematic experience. Anderson shot below water, capturing the traumatic impact of bottom trawling, while Strong handled above-water sequences. The film, which won five awards on the festival circuit, aims to show both the beauty and destruction of oceans, offering hope through individual action. Strong used a Kinefinity Mavo Edge 8K camera and Canon K35 lenses, while Anderson emphasized lens choice for emotional impact. Attenborough's interview was recorded before filming due to his age.